"One of President Donald Trump's staunch allies, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office in 2022 as one of Israel's most vocal supporters in Europe. Fast forward to the present: As the political ground shifts, she has dispatched an Italian warship to aid a flotilla attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The unprecedented response - one joined by Spain, which said it would also send a vessel - is more nuanced than the optics suggest."
"Meloni has lambasted the same flotilla that the Italian Navy is rushing to aid, calling it "gratuitous, dangerous and irresponsible." She has also staked out a far more cautious approach on recognizing a Palestinian state than have France, Britain and other countries that did so over the past week. But the previously unimaginable decision to dispatch the Italian warship suggests the extent to which the conflict in the Middle East is engulfing domestic politics in Europe, and putting its leaders in uncomfortable positions."
"Meloni has said that use of military force by the Italian navy is not "envisaged," but that it will help with rescue and assistance as needed. Still, the move puts the right-wing Meloni in the tough spot of providing backup to flotilla-carrying figures, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who are reviled by the Italian prime minister's base. France and other countries that have come down harder on Israel than has Italy have also requested that the Italians aid their citizens if needed."
Giorgia Meloni deployed an Italian warship to support a flotilla attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, joined by Spain. Meloni previously was a vocal supporter of Israel yet called the flotilla "gratuitous, dangerous and irresponsible." She adopted a more cautious stance on recognizing a Palestinian state than several European governments. The Italian navy will not use military force but will provide rescue and assistance as needed. The deployment puts Meloni at odds with her right-wing base by protecting activists like Greta Thunberg and reflects rising Italian outrage over Gaza's bloodshed.
Read at The Washington Post
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